What we can learn about resiliency from a micro animal
Hope, the growth mindset, and adaptability are crucial instruments of resilience we all need to make it through life's gnarliest of challenges.
While you breathe for 18 hours out of a day, you have the opportunity to build enviable resiliency and withstand much of what life throws at you.
Why not go for it? I’ll tell you why you need to:
We need the “bounce back”. Resiliency helps us recover from whatever damage we suffer through traumas and challenges we face.
Resiliency helps us to adapt to change. Sometimes life changes seasons without us knowing. Job situations, relationship statuses, the passing of loved ones. Adapting helps us stay fresh in mind and be present as life changes.
We’ll dig into how to build resilience, but first…the tardigrade.
The Example of the Tardigrade
Tardigrades are microscopic animals. I’d place a picture of them but they’re ugly little things! We can talk about every beautiful creature in the world, but trust me, a tardigrade is not one of them! lol.
(If you must see one, here is the Wikipedia link with an image)
Regardless of their ugliness, aren’t they resilient beings!
Terrestrial tardigrades can survive in temperatures up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. In comparison. all mammals can survive up to an average of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, tardigrades have proteins that stabilize their cells and protect their DNA from radiation damage.
So, they are equipped to withstand terrible conditions and have tools to preserve them so they can continue to live.
What about you? Do you have the equipment you need to withstand life’s trials? Do you have resources to help you face future issues, so you don’t lose your way?
As for me, I become resilient through at least five things: hope, rest, change, a growth mindset, and good habits.
Here’s a deeper look into those five instruments of resilience:
Hope
Did you know that hope is a science?
I’m reading this book called “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life. In this book, Casey Gwinn and Chan Hellman show how hopeless people, even under extreme circumstances, can build hope towards their goals.
In their co-authored book, Dr. Chan defined hope as:
“The belief that your future can be brighter and better than your past and that you actually have a role to play in making it better.”
Dr. Chan is part of 75 science-based studies about hope. They know what they are talking about.
Hope can now be measured for study and accurately assess where a person stands in their psychology for their future. In other words, a mental health practitioner can see what they’re working with from tests their patients undergo.
These tests have helped the practitioners assist their patients in overcoming obstacles with tools based on real actual hope.
Overcoming obstacles can take excruciating work and a long time, but hope is now proven to help humans withstand and beat their challenges. Thus, the patient gains resilience during their trial. When the next trial hits, they have the experience of overcoming trials and could feel more ready to face that next one.
Survival through rest
Some people say that we need to go non-stop towards our goals. I disagree. We cannot always do that, although there are times we can.
Choosing to rest and let our foot off the gas pedal is not always a bad thing. In fact, it’s often recommended.
Exhaustion from physical and mental tasks can be resolved by rest. Be aware of the need to rest. Then after you do, come back to the task or overall goal with fresh energy.
The more you progress the more resilient you will grow to be.
Change
Unresolved emotional stress and stressful environments (especially work environments) can impede resilience if we let them.
So, change the factors that you can change. Notice that the environment does not feel lively and it’s making you depressed or unmotivated? Put some quiet, but upbeat music on in the background. Need more positive energy as you work? Research positive quotes, print them out or write them on index cards that you can tape around your desk.
And don’t forget the environment that is within you. Be mindful of what you listen to, and watch.
The Growth Mindset
Positive psychology is a powerful tool for self-development. Growth mindset is a buzzword within positive psychology for a reason. Having a growth mindset means you believe you can change and mature in order to have a better life.
Within the school of growth mindset thinking, the paradigm of “not yet” has encouraged many people.
It means, instead of saying, “I’m not a great writer,” you say,
“I’m not a great writer…yet.”
As you say or think “not yet”, the “not yet” signifies to you that you are on a journey towards something. It also says to give yourself some grace for the journey. You don’t need to “arrive” just yet. Just keep going. You’ll get there.
Good Habits
Resiliency typically involves actions. If you want to build resiliency you must commit to purposeful habits, whether they are external (i.e. running, writing, researching) or internal (meditating, breath work, eating healthy).
Good habits will help you conform to what you need to do and be in order for you to accomplish your goals.
I love “Atomic Habits” from James Clear. In the book, James lays out a blueprint for people who are looking to adopt good habits as they let go of bad ones.
He writes:
"The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.”
Our actions reveal who we are. Imagine what amazing, wise, powerful things you do if you choose to be a resilient human being!
Conclusion
Life is full of challenges. Resiliency is key to overcoming challenges. With intentional hard work, faith and further study about resiliency, you will do things you have not dreamed of and experience incredible, surprising moments even when the hard seasons come.